Doctoral Researcher for the Finnish Design Push initiative (2-year funded position)

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, approximately 14 000 students, 400 professors and close to 5000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) is a Nordic leader in higher education for design, fashion, games, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We produce world-class research e.g., in design, digital media and visual culture, art education, urban planning and architecture. Our graduates innovate in and beyond their fields, drawing on over a century of tradition of our institution, a humane and forward-looking approach, and the latest technologies.  

The Department of Design is a community of creative and responsible researchers and design experts. We educate front-line design professionals and visionaries for established, changing and emerging fields of design. (https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-design). 

We are now looking for a

Doctoral Researcher for the Finnish Design Push initiative (2-year funded position)

The Department of Design is looking for a doctoral researcher for the Finnish Design Push initiative to take part in our on-going research on industry engagements in design education and its role and functioning in furthering developments within technology industries, and especially small- and medium-sized companies. The Finnish Design Push is a joint research and development initiative on education – formed in partnership between the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and the Technology Industries of Finland to support the work-life transition of design students and further the employment of design within Finnish industry (Finnish Design Push | Aalto University).

In searching for a doctoral researcher to join us in the coming months, we are looking for an individual that shares our research interests in the intersection between design education and design integration and who has the capacity to pursue doctoral studies. The duration of doctoral studies is estimated to four years at Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture and a suitable applicant is expected to prepare a research plan and get accepted to the doctoral programme of the school during the six-month probation period for the position. You can find more information about the doctoral programme at the school and what is required from applicants here: Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture | Aalto University.

Your role and goals

As a doctoral researcher, you will take part in studying the development and educational activities pursued through the initiative as well as developing your own doctoral research within the realm of interests for the initiative. Design is frequently brought forward as pivotal for companies to stay competitive and innovative across many industries – e.g., being an integral part when developing offerings, deepening engagements with customers, and expanding into new markets. In critically examining the basic premises of such propositions, with the Finnish Design Push, we are interested in better understand the processes by which companies – and especially small- and medium-sized technology companies – becomes interested, acquires capabilities in design and start contracting and developing structures for designers. We are also interested in how design education and industry engagements can support students in acquiring the necessary skills, knowledge, and interest to take on challenges and successfully pursue careers as designers in technology companies. In furthering these research interests, a suitable applicant for the position is expected to direct their doctoral research to address questions about the processes and practices by which small- and medium-sized companies acquire capabilities in design and/or industry engagements are organized in design education.

Advancing your doctoral studies and accompanying research studies form the focus of the position. However, as a member of the Department of Design and the project team behind the Finnish Design Push, you are also expected to contribute to teaching and partake in the administration and research activities for the initiative.  

Your network and team

As a doctoral researcher at the Department of Design, you will be working in a multidisciplinary and international environment comprising researchers, teachers, and students who all share a passion for design. You can read mor about the Department of Design here: Department of Design | Aalto University Through the Finnish Design Push, you will also have an opportunity to gain experience from new modes for teaching and forge connections with Finnish industry and technology companies.

Your experience and ambitions

• Master's degree in design, design management, business, education, or other relevant field.
• Ability to work both independently and together with other researchers executing assigned tasks.
• Capacity to complete the doctoral studies within four years.
• Strong proficiency in English. Given the benchmark activities on design education that are pursued through the initiative, proficiency in a Nordic language is considered an advantage.
• Knowledge and experience in academic skills, prior experience in research and publishing is considered as an advantage.

What we offer
The position is fixed termed for two years, and for conducting full time doctoral studies. Funding continuation might be possible after this period. The starting time for the position is settled with the individual selected for the position, but we hope that a suitable applicant can join us no later than September.

We offer the innovative working community of Aalto University and meaningful and varied work as part of a high-level research environment. The work includes the possibility of participating in interesting staff training at Aalto University. More about working at Aalto here.

Join us!

Please send your application as PDF files through our online recruitment system by the 31st of May. Your application should include the following documents:

• a letter of motivation describing your background and why you are applying for the position (max 2 pages). Please include preferred time for starting the position. If you are still studying, please indicate when you will have completed your current degree.
• a research statement in which you introduce your interests in the topic area for the position and what topic(s) you would like to study further during your doctoral studies (max. 3 pages). As a starting point for discussing what to potentially pursue in your research plan, please articulate your research interests in relation to how you see existing literature on the topic area.
• CV and list of publication (if available),

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions).

For more information about the role, please contact Associate Professor Oscar Person at oscar.person(at)aalto.fi.  For questions related to the application process, please contact HR Partner Katju Helminen, katju.helminen(at)aalto.fi.

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos:

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